COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23
(By Senators Wells and Jenkins)
[Originating in the Committee on Military;
reported March 25, 2009.]
Requesting the Division of Veterans Affairs name the West Virginia
State Veterans Cemetery located in Kanawha County "THE DONEL
KINNARD VETERANS CEMETERY".
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was born on April 5, 1936, in Logan;
and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was married to Rebecca McCann Kinnard;
and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard retired with 22 years in military
service, first in the United States Marine Corps and then in the
United States Navy, where he served with UDT and SEALS teams; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was a recipient of the Navy Cross (the
Navy's highest medal), seven Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and
many other medals, commendations and citations; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was the past state commander of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, past district commander of the VFW, past
post commander of the VFW and past president of the Hurricane Lions Club; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard was a member of the Legion of Valor,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, UDT-SEAL Association,
Fleet Reserve Association, Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans of
America and the Military Order of the Cootie; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard played an instrumental role in
establishing a 120-bed, $32 million nursing facility in Clarksburg;
and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard served as chairman of the West Virginia
Veterans Council, chairman of the West Virginia Veterans Nursing
Home Committee and chairman of the West Virginia Veterans Cemetery;
and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard asked that his final resting place be
the West Virginia State Veterans Cemetery located in Kanawha
County; and
Whereas, Donel Kinnard died on February 14, 2009; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Veterans Affairs is hereby requested to
name the West Virginia State Veterans Cemetery located in Kanawha
County "THE DONEL KINNARD VETERANS CEMETERY"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs; the Secretary of Military Affairs
and Public Safety; Donel Kinnard's wife, Rebecca McCann Kinnard;
his daughter, Theresa Johnson of Austin, Texas; his son, Donel
Kinnard and his wife Tammy Kinnard of Milford, Ohio; his son, Mike
Kinnard and his wife Lina Kinnard of Milton; his daughter, Melissa
Kay Cliver and her husband Tim Cliver of San Antonio, Texas; his
daughter, Petra Kresse and her husband Bob Kresse of Virginia
Beach, Virginia; his daughter, Kimberly Tapia and her husband Ted
Tapia of Longmont, Colorado; his stepson, Larry Stamm and his wife
Laurene Stamm of Mooresville, North Carolina; his stepson, Wade
Stamm of Huntersville, North Carolina; his stepdaughter, Alandra
Warner and her husband John Warner of Mooresville, North Carolina;
his stepson, Ryan Stamm and his wife Louisa Stamm of Cornelius,
North Carolina; his brother, Ben Kinnard of Wood River, Illinois;
his sister, Emma Robison of Palm Bay, Florida; and his sister, Lona
Hayes and her husband Pete Hayes of Milton.